Disk sharpener or cutter



(No Model.)

L. B. LANCASTER.

- DISK SHARPENER. OR CUTTER. No. 535,014. Patented Mar. 5,1895.

NITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

LEVI BENJAMIN LANCASTER, OF MASSILLON, IOWA.

DISK SHARPENER OR CUTTER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,014, dated March 5, 1895. Application filed December 3, 1894. Serial No. 530,660. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI BENJAMIN LAN- CASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Massillon, Cedar county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk Sharpen ers or Cutters, of which the following specification contains a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan of one section of a disk harrow, inverted or turned upside down, with my sharpening apparatus applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cutting or sharpening tool applied. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the disk holder with its clip removed to better show its construction. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the too] carrier or block, the cutting tool and the guard or guide fingers. Fig. 5 is a plan of a tool for use in reducing the diameter of a disk, and Fig. 6 shows one of the clip sections for the sharpener-lever.

My invention relates to that class of sharpeners which comprise a lever adapted to be clipped to the disk axle and provided with an adjustable chisel-like cutter to engage the periphery of the disk and impart the desired bevel thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide a tool of this class which may be used to sharpen or reduce the diameter of concave or flat disks, without removing them from the frame which carries them; also to render the sharpener readily adjustable from the end to the intermediate disks of a gang without removing the cutter or sharpening tool, by simply changing the axle clips from one prong of the cutter-lever to the other; also to prevent or guard against torsional strain on the cutter lever; also to provide a friction holder which will hold the disks against rotation when the cutter or sharpening tool is sharpening the disk, while permitting the rotation of the disk upon the up or back stroke of the cutter-1ever, or vice versa; also to provide means for readily connecting the holder with and disconnecting it from the disk axle.

The invention will first be described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

A represents the sharpener or cutter-lever bifurcated vertically at its forward end to form the two horizontally aligned prongs A A which are both of a length to cross the disk axis; the said prongs being somewhat bowed or curved to conform to the concavity and convexity of the disk sides. The prong A has a greater curve where it joins the lever as shown at a and this portion of said prong receives the cutter or tool block B and permits it to be so adjusted with respect to the periphery of the disk, as to cause the sharp ening tool or cutter to impart the desired bevel thereto and said tool carrier or block is always mounted on this portion a of the prong A, when sharpening concave or convex disks.

The tool carrier, or block B, is provided with an opening b through which the prong A is passed, and with a second intersecting opening 6 at right angles thereto, through which the cutting or sharpening tool is passed. A set screw Z2 extends through the outer side of the block B, and engages with its inner end the prong A to clamp the block adj ustably thereon while the tool B extends through the other opening band across the upper side of prong A and a vertical set screw b extends down through the top of the block or carrier and bears on the upper side of the tool B and causes it to be firmly clamped in place and at the same time assists in holding the block or tool carrier. The opening I) is wider than the tool to permit it to be adjusted laterally so as to bring its cutting or working edge at the proper angle to the disk edge.

Guard or guide fingers B B project above and below the inner side of the block and are provided with transverse set screws 19 which engage the convex side of the disk and prevent the lever from twisting or turning in the hand while being worked up or down. These set screws will also regulate the depth of cut as will be readily seen.

The lever is coupled to the shaft of a gang of disks by means of the clip 0 formed of two hook-like sections 0 0, both of which sections are provided in their lower ends with openings 0 through which either one of the lever prongs A A may be passed; set screws 0 serving to clamp the clip sections in place so that either one or both may be adjusted on the prong. The upper hooked ends of the clip sections 0 overlap and thus hold the clip and lever A to the axle. By having both clip sections adjustable, the tool 13 may be brought into an approximately correct position with relation to the edge of the disk to be sharpened, which would not be the case if one clip section only was adjustable.

I will now describe the holder by means of which the disks are held from rotation while the sharpening is being carried on.

D is a handlebar provided at its forward end with a U-shaped clip D to engage the axle, and with a horizontally extending gravity friction grip E hinged at its inner edge to the bar, so as to swing freely up and down and bring its opposed jaws e 9 into engagement with the opposite sides of a disk.

The grip E normally hangs down at an incline and will thus firmly grip a disk with its jaws and hold it against downward rotation, but will release itself when the disk is rotated upwardly. This grip or friction holder E is formed of a fiat plate of steel formed with the jaws e e in its forward edge and provided in rear of the jaws with a recess 6' to prevent it from contacting with and injuring the edge of the disk. The inner longitudinal edge of the grip is provided with a clip e which freely receives the handlebar D and permits the grip to swing up and down thereon. Theinner edge of the grip E is also provided with a notch or recess 8 which receives a collar D adjustable on the handle-bar by means of its set screw D Thus the holder is adapted for disks of different diameters.

In order to readily apply and remove the holder, the forward end of the handle-bar is reduced and provided with a lateral lug or projection (1 while the lower ends of the clip D are provided with apertures 61', CF, to receive the handle-bar; the forward smaller aperture having a recess d in one side to permit passage of the lug or projection 61 therethrough and then by turning the handle-bar, the lug (Z and recess d will be out of register and the clip will be locked to the handle-bar.

The operation is as follows: The disk-cultivator, harrow or other like implement, is preferably turned upside down as in Fig. 1, and the disk-holder is first secured in place on the axle thereof, by means of its clip D, as shown in Fig. 1 and then the cutter or sharpener lever is applied to the disk axle by means of its clip 0. 1f theleft-hand disk (see dotted lines Fig. 1) is to be sharpened, the clip is applied to the prong A as the axle does not project sufficiently at that end to receive said clip. The chisel like cutter is then brought into proper position to out the desired bevel on the disk edge and the lever A is swung up. Now, by pressing the lever A to the right and downwardly, its cutter will engage the disk edge and shear or plane off a thin strip until thelever can be forced down no farther; the tendency of the disk to rotate being prevented by the friction holder, the jaws e e of which will bite tight on the disk during such operation. The lever A will now,

while still being pressed to the right, he swung up for a second action and in being so swung will rotate the disk with it and the friction holder or grip will swing up sufficiently to permit such action; but when the other disks, including the right-hand disk, are to be sharpened, then the clip 0 is removed from the prong A and applied to the prong A, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The prong A will now engage the concave face of the disk and form the fulcrum of the lever A, as it is pressed to the right and assist in rotating the disks upwardly for a fresh cut when the lever A is swung up and so also when the clip 0 is on prong A It will be understood that the lever A may be held stationary while the holder mechanism is worked up and down to rotate the disks if preferred.

The friction grip or holder does not interfere with the sharpening of the disk with which it is in engagement, and hence the disk colters of plows may also be sharpened very expeditiously without removing them from the plow.

A further advantage of the adjustability of the clip to either prong A A is that it may be transferred from one to the other whenever the bearings which support the disk shaft would interfere with the application of the clip to the axle. or shaft at that side of the disk; no transference of the chisel like cutter being necessary. In sharpening fiat colter disks, however, the clip 0 and the block or tool-carrier will be applied to the opposite end of the lever A.

It frequently happens that farmers desire to reduce the diameter of the cultivatordisks and this may be readily accomplished by substituting a diamond point cutter F, see Fig. 5, for the chisel cutter and adjusting it the desired distance away from the periphery. The screws 5 in the guard fingers may be turned back from time to time to permit the cutter E to penetrate deeper until the cut is finished and a circular band severed from the disk. The band may be cut by a chisel and removed and then the reduced disk may be sharpened by removing cutter F and applying the chisel-like cutter B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a disk sharpener or cutter, the combination with a holder having a friction grip to engage and hold the disk, of a lever having means for connecting it with the axis of the disk and a tool holder or block on said lever; the said disk holder being separate and independent of the said lever, substantially as set forth.

2. In a disk sharpener or cutter, the combination with a holder comprisinga bar having means for connecting it with the disk axis, and a friction grip having jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk and lock it against rotation in one direction, of the lever adapted ITO seams to be connected with the disk axis, and provided with a tool carrier or block, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the handle-bar having a clip at its forward end to engage the disk axis and provided between its ends with a freely swinging friction grip having jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, of a sharpening or cutting tool to engage the disk, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the chaarcter described, the disk holder comprising a bar having a clip to engage the disk axis and a laterally projecting friction grip having jaws to engage-opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the disk holder comprisinga barprovided at its forward end with a detachable axle-clip, and a friction grip projecting laterally from the bar and having jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the disk holder comprising a handle bar having a reduced forward end provided with a lateral lug or projection, a U-shaped clip having apertures in its lower ends to receive the bar, the forward aperture being smaller and provided with a recess for the passage of said lug, and the friction grip provided with jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, the disk holder comprising the bar provided with means for connecting it with it the disk axis, and a laterally projecting friction grip on one side of the bar and provided with jaws to engage the opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the bar adapted to be clipped to the axle, of the friction grip adjustable longitudinally along the bar and provided with jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the bar adapted to be clipped to the axle, of the friction grip pivotally connected at the side with the said bar, to swing freely up and down, and provided in its forward edge with opposed jaws, to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the bar adapted to be clipped to the disk axle, of the vertically swinging friction grip, adjustable longitudinally along the bar and provided in its forward edge with opposed jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the bar adapted to be clipped to the axle and provided with an adjustable collar, of the friction grip hinged to the bar to slide and swing thereon and having a notched side edge to receive the collar; the forward edge of the grip being provided with opposed jaws to engage opposite sides of the disk, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with the cutter-lever having forwardly projecting prongs at its forward end, spaced apart to receive a disk between them and of a length to cross the disk axle, of a tool carrier or block on one prong, and an axle clip adapted to be transferred from one prong to the other, as occasion may require, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with the cutter-lever having forwardly projecting prongs at the forward end, spaced apart to receive a disk between them and of a length to cross the disk axle; one of the prongs having an offset curved portion a where it joins the lever, a tool carrier adjustable on the said portion a and an axle clip adapted to be transferred from one prong to the other as occasion may require.

14. The combination with the cutter-bar provided at its forward end with two prongs, to receive the disk between them and of a length to cross the disk axle and a two-part clip formed of hook'like sections both adjustable on either one of said prongs and the tool carrier or block on one of the prongs, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the lever having two forwardly projecting laterally curved or bowed prongs to receive a disk between them and of a length to cross the disk axis; one of the prongs having a curved portion ct where it joins the lever, of a clip transferable from one prong to the other and a tool carrier or block adjustable on the said portion a substantially as set forth.

16. The cutter-lever having a clip on its forward end formed of two hook-like members, both adjustable longitudinally along the lever and a tool carrier or block between the ends of the lever, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with the cutter lever provided with a tool carrier, of guards or guides above and below the tool carrier and projecting laterally in the same direction to engage the adjacent side of the disk being sharpened and prevent twisting of the lever, substantially as set forth.

18. The cutter-lever provided with a tool carrier having guards or guides provided with transverse set screws above and below the cutter to engage the side of the disk, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with the lever having means for connecting its forward end with the disk axle and provided with a tool carrier or block having intersecting openings through one of which said lever passes, the cutting tool passing through the other of said openings and crossing the lever and the horizontal and vertical set screws locking the block, or carrier, to the lever and the tool to the lever and carrier or block, substantially as set forth.

20. The tool carrier or block provided with the transverse lever and tool openings at right angles to each other and the guards or guides above and below the inner side of the tool openings, substantially as set forth.

21. The tool carrier or block provided with the transverse lever and tool openings of greater width than the tool and lever respectively, set screws entering said openings and the guards provided With the transverse screws to engage the face of the disk being sharpened, substantially as set forth.

22. The disk sharpener comprising the twopronged lever; one prong of which is ofiset and curved as at a, the tool carrier or block on said portion a and provided with aguard 10 or guide to engage the side of the disk and prevent twisting of the lever, and a two-part clip adjustable from one prong to the other, substantially as set forth.

LEVI BENJAMIN LANCASTER.

Witnesses:

O. L. KEITH,

G. A. RoBIsoN. 

